TV Detectives

Yellowhammer's Culcha Spot.

A Good detective drama will have a quality script with witty or ponder-provoking phrasing.

Some examples of imagery used in Yellowhammers Detective (Inspector or Private) viewings recently include :

'..He's climbing up the candle...' ie the wrong direction towards the flame of trouble.

' I'm working like a one armed paper hanger..' - ie Too busy plate spinning

 '..He's a busted flush..' - ie Showed great promise and messed it right up

And on a more classical tip - Poirot's wisdom can not be faulted .. 

'The sins of the past cast long shadows, mon ami...'

along with 'Look after your Liver, Hastings, and the rest will look after itself...' 

Miss Marple is not an easy detective to like, but also comes with the odd wise observation..

' When love is driven underground, it quickens it ardour...' 

Too true, too true. 

There are quite a few rubbish detective shows to steer clear of.

Rosemary and Thyme don't hold a candle to Cadfael...and ...Dalziel & Pascoe are not even pronouncable- more Pie Hole than Pie in the Sky...I think they come from the Frost school.

 ...Some modern detective dramas are a bit too close to horror, or brooding and uncomfortable like Wallander...and many are mildly rediculous plotwise, despite excellent characters eg Johnathan Creek, Midsommer Murders...arguably all watchable Sunday viewing.

Yellowhammer likes the moody ones of course - Rebus and Morse would make a formidable pair. Sherlock however, can only ever go with Watson, which brings us onto sidekicks. 

Some detectives find themselves often outside the social sphere, and are therefore able to view humanity with less emotional involvement which aids thinking afresh.

The detective and their sidekick often have a good relationship with one another however - and are both on the side of justice, truth and loyalty - practising critical thinking, studying patterns with intellectual patience to dispense with dark plotters.

The side kick acts to add skills, pose questions, balance personality and highlight logical, yet artistic brilliance. Never as shrewd though.

Watson,  is grateful Im sure, to be beefed up in more recent adaptations -  a skilled shooter, doctor and moral guardian, more masculine than bumbling these days. 

  

Along with Sherlock, Poirot has to be the most arrogant - possessing OCD tendencies yet loving himself so much he spends hours on his appearance, and always scatters self complements over his grand concluding speech. 

Although Yellowhammer imagines there are people trying to solve-along-a-murder, my preferred method is to go with the Flow... Rockin' Like Columbo .

SIDEKICKS QUIZ

MORSE & _______

LEWIS & _________

POIROT & _________

GENTLY & ________

BARNABY & _______

REGAN & ________ 

bonusQ

What is Cadfael's favourite drink?______________